What the Papers Say

Last updated : 25 April 2006 By Liam Cooper
Because of West Ham's impressive exploits in reaching the FA Cup final, and thus securing themselves a UEFA Cup spot for next season, sixth place became the cut off spot for UEFA Cup qualification. Despite enjoying 70% of the possession last night, Wigan again lacked the killer instinct in goal to win the game.

Here is what a selection of National newspapers said about Fulham ending Wigans European hopes, whilst securing Premiership safety for themselves.

The Sun

Fulham 1 Wigan 0


Steed Malbranque left Wigan's Euro hopes in tatters at Craven Cottage.

Fulham's French ace fired the only goal on the stroke of half-time to leave Latics boss Paul Jewell scratching his head.

Jewell watched frustrated as his side battered away at the Fulham goal to no avail. Jason Roberts, Gary Teale and Lee McCulloch all had chances to put the visitors in front before the break

Jewell said: "I don't think we've dominated a game like that all season.

"The ball was going in the box, there was quality football but we didn't have the instinct to get us a goal."

The Times

Wigan out of luck as Fulham secure survival


WIGAN Athletic have illuminated the Barclays Premiership in their first season in the top flight and a Uefa Cup place would be a fitting reward for their efforts. But that prize became less likely last night after an unlucky defeat against a Fulham side that they dominated for long periods.

Not that Paul Jewell, the Wigan manager, was too worried. He has seen his players rise from the Coca-Cola Championship, establish a place in the top half of the table and also reach the final of the Carling Cup. It is enough for one season.

“Sure, it was frustrating tonight,” Jewell said: “but Fulham were better at our place and we nicked it 1-0, so that's how it goes sometimes."

Daily Mail

Fulham saved by trusty Steed

Fulham manager Chris Coleman admitted his side deserved to be booed off at half-time of the 1-0 Barclays Premiership victory over Wigan.

Steed Malbranque pounced with a beautiful finish moments before the interval but it was such a terrible performance from Fulham up to that point that home fans still jeered them from the pitch.

Coleman said: "We did to them what they did to us up there in October. Wigan dominated the game for 60 or 70 minutes and we were really poor in the first half.

"In the first 15 minutes we were OK but after that were really poor. We couldn't get anywhere near them because they passed the ball very well."

The Independent

Malbranque strike fails to hush jeers of Fulham fans


It is games like these which may just eventually cost Chris Coleman his job. As strange as that seems after a victory that made it mathematically impossible for Fulham to be relegated, and lifted them to 14th, the sound of the home fans jeering at the interval - seconds after the goal had been scored - will not have gone unnoticed by the club's hierarchy.

His longevity may also depend on holding on to Luis Boa Morte and Steed Malbranque, who has a year left on his contract. They make the difference to his team. Without them they are less than ordinary. It was, unsurprisingly, those two who combined after a solid half-hour of Wigan pressure for the goal.

At the end Jewell stood with his hands on his head. He looked bewildered. And had every reason to feel so: "That's football," he said.

It may be a cliché but he was right.